Investigators are asking the public to help identify three male protesters who took part in a demonstration May 27 at Vermont Gas.

Two demonstrators reached the roof of the South Burlington office building in an attempt to display a banner; a third injured an employee while trying to chain a fellow-protester to the building's entrance, according to a police statement released Tuesday.

No charges have been filed against the men, but there remains the possibility of trespass, simple assault and disorderly conduct complaints being filed, said South Burlington Police Cpl. Ron Bliss.

The demonstration, staged by Rising Tide Vermont to protest the southward extension of natural gas pipelines, resulted in the arrest of Sara Mehalick, 31, of Plainfield. Mehalick had fastened a U-shaped bicycle lock to her neck, which her colleagues then chained to the utility's front door.

An employee was injured when protesters shoved her aside and entangled her arm in a thick chain, Detective Cpl. Andrew Johnson told the Burlington Free Press.

Two men wanted for questioning by South Burlington Police walk through the lobby of Vermont Gas on May 27 in this surveillance camera image.
(Photo:
Courtesy South Burlington Police
)

Several photographs sent to the Burlington Free Press showed large bruises on the upper arm and elbow of a person whom Vermont Gas spokesman Steve Wark identified as the injured employee.

Rising Tide Vermont spokesman Keith Brunner said he is not familiar with the details of the alleged injuries.

"If anyone was injured, it was inadvertent," Brunner said. "We still maintain that it wasn't the fault of the activists involved."

All of the demonstrators at last week's protest had earlier received training in nonviolent direct action, he added.

The protester that police say is responsible for the employee's injuries was wearing black rimmed glasses, a blue winter hat, a dark hooded zip-up sweatshirt and a khaki courier-type shoulder bag.

CLOSE

Sara Mehalick was arrested after stating that she planed to stay chained to the building until Vermont Gas withdraws its permits for Phase One of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.
GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Earlier that morning, a choreographed distraction at the receptionist's desk allowed two men to enter parts of the building off limits to the public, Johnson said.

Surveillance cameras captured images of those two men, who sported short-cropped hair, button-down shirts and ties — while appearing to be talking on cellphones.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon by Vermont Gas, Wark wrote: "We don't have a problem with people expressing their opinions and concerns, but last week protestors went too far when they assaulted and injured an employee and endangered themselves and others by climbing on the roof."